Book Review: The Fault in Our Stars

Title: The Fault in Our Stars

Author: John Green

Publisher: Dutton Books

Publication Date: January 10, 2012

Format: Hardcover, Barnes & Noble Collector's Edition

Source: Purchased

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning author John Green's most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.

My Review

Okay... I'm going to warn you that my review of this book is very critical. I did not enjoy this book, but I would appreciate that you respect my opinion. If you really loved this book and might get offended by a negative review, please feel free to stop reading. I won't mind. I didn't know if I actually wanted to publish my review of this book on my blog, but I have decided to publish it.

When I first decided that I wanted to read this book, it was because the synopsis was interesting. A lot of people were talking about it too. And not just the people on Goodreads. I literally heard about this book all the time. Then I started reading, and I realized that the kind of cancer that Hazel originally had is the kind I am most likely to get. It intrigued me enough to keep reading. I mean why not, right? I kept thinking that maybe I could learn something about it in case it were to happen to me.

Unfortunately, that was where my interest in the book stopped. The Fault in Our Stars was very predictable. I pretty much knew what was going to happen as soon as a new character was introduced. The only thing that really surprised me was the characterization of Caroline. Other than that, I really don't know. I couldn't stand it.

I really thought it would be this great book because I have heard and read many great things about it, but I just don't think it's that great. So many people told me to read it, and I wanted to smack them in the head with the book upon completing it. 

It was so easy to read that it was almost boring. Actually, I think it was boring, even the short chapters, which I feel are just included to speed along the plot. I read this book so slow because of how boring it is, and I am not a slow reader. That is one reason why it was not an enjoyable read for me.

Augustus and Hazel are two characters who angered me. They were overly annoying. I've met a lot of teens, and not one of them talks like that. I can't even imagine someone with cancer, especially a teenager with cancer, speaking so beautifully all of the time. Don't get me wrong... some of what they said was awesome, but it wasn't realistic.

Also, I was quite offended by how Green romanticized cancer. I'm sure he didn't do it on purpose, but that's how it comes off to me. I've actually seen and heard kids wish that they had cancer because of this book. I'm sorry, but we can't live in a world where people want cancer because cancer is not the kind of disease that one should wish on themselves.

I understand that the book is not supposed to be a cancer book. I guess it is a book about living with cancer. If you ask me, Green failed. I just felt like it was another book about a kid with cancer. It made me angry to see cancer presented this way because I've seen quite a few of my brother and sister's friends die of childhood cancer and this book was not a realistic depiction of the suffering I've seen.

I honestly just don't understand all of the hype about the book. It seems like it gets bigger and bigger by the day. It's not going away. While I'm sure people will say that it's an amazing book, it's definitely not the most amazing book on the planet. There are better realistic fiction books out there, and I'm only sorry that I didn't stop reading this book. I could have saved myself some time.

  

Top Ten Tuesday (4)

Top Ten Tuesday (TTT) is a weekly meme hosted by the ladies over at The Broke and Bookish. Each week, there is a different topic, and all you need to do is give your answers in the form of a top ten list. They love making lists. I love making lists. It's a win for them, and it's a win for me.

This week is about book recommendations, more specifically the top ten books that your friends recommend to you because they think you'll love it or because the book is just so popular that it is just being recommended all of the time.

This one is kind of tough for me because people often recommend books to me that I just don't want to read. I try to be as polite as I can, but sometimes, I just know that I don't want to read a book. When I get a recommendation on Goodreads that I know isn't for me, I just ignore it. It's a little bit tougher when it happens in real life, though.

I recently opened another recommendation on Goodreads, so I am using some of the books from there. I'm also using some books that I've been told to read in the past.

1. The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling -  I'm not afraid to admit this, but I didn't read the Harry Potter books until I was twenty-three despite so many middle school and high school friends practically begging me to read them. I tried to read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone when I was in sixth grade, but it wasn't for me. After more people in college told me to give them another try, I finally did, and I couldn't be happier with myself. They are by far the best books I've ever read.
   
2. The Twilight Saga by Stephanie Meyer - These were another set of books that my high school friends wanted me to read. I gave them a shot after my younger sister read and loved them, but I threw Twilight book at her head after three pages. Meyer's style just wasn't for me.
   
3. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - Everyone was passing this book around and recommending it. Everyone. Even some of the students I interact with thought I would enjoy it. I read it. I hated it. End of story.
   
4. The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer - It seems like everyone is reading these books, and I'm currently binge reading the released books in the series. I am actually really happy that people told me to read these because I kept passing them up in the store. So far, I'm enjoying them.
   
5. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell - As a substitute teacher, I saw a lot of young girls reading this book. When I was in a long-term substitute position, I spent my prep periods in a middle school library. The school librarian was the one who finally convinced me to read it. I enjoyed it, and I went on to read all of Rainbow's books.
   
6. Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern - I got an email that said I would enjoy this book. It's also been recommended to me on Goodreads a few times. I haven't read it yet.
   
7. If I Stay and Where She Went by Gayle Forman - Obviously these two go hand in hand. For the longest time, I ignored the recommendations on these ones just because I wasn't sure that I would like them. I thought about it for a bit, and gave them a try. These are two of my favorite books, and I even passed If I Stay on to my mom because she was really curious about the movie.
   
8. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes - My one friend from college keeps telling me to read this. She's told me to read it so many times that I've lost track, but I am going to keep my promise and eventually read it because she's not much of a reader.
   
9. Anna and the French Kiss series by Stephanie Perkins - I had seen this book everywhere, and then it started showing up in my automatic recommendations from Goodreads. Then my Goodreads friends started recommending it to me, so I when I found it at a used bookstore, I grabbed it. I loved it, and I'm currently waiting on Lola and the Boy Next Door to get here.
   
10. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky - My eleventh grade English teacher was obsessed with this book. I paid enough attention to his fanboy moments to know that I wanted to read the book. I kid you not... my English teacher was a Stephen Chbosky fanboy. He would rave about the book and Jericho all the time. When I finally got to college, the whole English department started recommending it. It turns out that they were planning to bring Mr. Chbosky in to speak to us. It's one of my favorite books ever. I had Stephen sign it, and then a year later, I met him again.
    

The Opposites Book Tag

I was tagged by Gloria. You can see her post here.

Basically all you have to do is answer some questions about books on your shelves. It deals with opposites!

1. The First Book in Your Collection/The Last Book You Bought

There are so many books that I had from being a kid, and the first ones I remember are Screamy Mimi and Where the Sidewalk Ends.

The last book I bought was Say What You Will. I'm still waiting for it to get here.

2. A Cheap Book/An Expensive Book

I bought a hardcover of Cinder for $4.99 on Book Outlet. It's a good website, but I've noticed that it is very hit or miss.

I bought an autographed copy of Four: A Divergent Collection for $17.99. It's not nearly as expensive of the signed copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone that I want, but it's the first book I've paid full price for in a while.

3. A Book with a Male POV/A Book with a Female POV

I'm going with the ever popular If I Stay duo. If I Stay is told from Mia's perspective, but Adam narrates Where She Went.

4. A Book that You Read Quickly/A Book that You Read Slowly

I read Anna and the French Kiss rather quickly.

The Fault in Our Stars was a really slow and boring read for me.

5. A Pretty Cover/An Ugly Cover

I'm quite fond of the cover for My Name is Memory. It is shiny and the colors are great.

I can't think of a book cover that I dislike right now... I'm sure one will come to me later.

6. A National Book/An International Book

I'm not so sure I understand this, so I am going to go with Harry Potter. Even though I know that it's set in the UK, I realize that readers in the United States are the only ones with our covers. The covers are the same in the UK and the rest of the world. I like how there are different versions of the covers. I really like the original U.S. covers, but the redesign is nice too. I really like the redesign of the UK versions, but in most of them, Harry doesn't really look like he is growing up like he does in the story.

The redesign and original US covers

Original and redesigned worldwide covers

I don't know. I love all four versions, and I hope to get the new U.S. box set and both sets of the British versions. Road trip to Canada, anyone?

7. A Thin Book/A Thick Book

I won Ghost Songs through Goodreads, and was surprised by how thin it was. I still have to read it, but I'll be sure to let everyone know how I like it.

I own quite a few thick books, and the thickest one I own is my dictionary.

8. A Fiction Book/A Nonfiction Book

I own many fiction books, so it's hard for me to choose just one. I'm going with Wonder because the story is so realistic that it hurts. If you haven't read this wonderful book, you should. I highly recommend it to everyone.

My choice for nonfiction is very near and dear to my heart. Ever since I was a little girl, I've been fascinated with the RMS Titanic. Many of my Christmas presents were books about the doomed ocean liner. My edition is different, but I couldn't find a working image of the book on my shelves.

9. A Romantic Book/ An Action Book

I have a lot of romance books on my shelves because I've read a lot of Nicholas Sparks.

For my action book, I'm going with The Hunger Games because of the games.  Need I say more?

10. A Book that Made You Happy/ A Book that Made You Sad

I laughed so hard when I read Me and Earl and the Dying Girl. I know the title is a bit morbid, but this book is hilarious.

Now for a book that made me sad. If you've read this one, you know why.

So, I'm tagging anyone who reads this to post your answers. Leave a comment with a link to yours because I'd love to see what opposites you have on your shelves.